The Bible says in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Yet, if yourmind is full of doubt and failure, youmay think, “I believe it, but nothing ever works out for me.” For that reason, I want to encourage youto transform yourlife by renewing your mind with the word of God and by fasting from wrong thoughts.

Now, the word transformed means to be fashioned or shaped; to change in form or appearance; to change in condition, nature or character. Meaning, we need to transform the outside with an inside perspective. Also, what we need to understand is that you can not win in life through prayer alone – you must have a renewed mind. You see, the enemy will plant wrong thoughts in your un-renewed mind, and because it is not renewed failure in life ensues. And that’s why in Romans 12:1-3 we see that we are to be transformed by the renewing of our mind – NOT our spirit, but our mind. So listen, a true transformation comes by you renewing your mind with the word of God. Therefore, if there is no transformation of the mind (reading your Bible) – there is no transformation of your life. And that is were many well meaning believers are missing it – they’re not reading their Bible.

Now, an example of wrong thoughts may be when youthink about what youcan’t do, how somebody in the past has hurt youor how you’llnever getahead. These toxic thoughts (if left alone) can become like waste that will eventually contaminate yourwhole life. These negative thoughts can affect yourselfimage, your attitude, and your level of confidence in life. It can dramatically affect who youare as a person.

Youare the sum totalof all that youbelieve and say about yourself. Therefore, if yourthinking is wrong, yourbelieving will be wrong. In other words, if youthink youcan or if youthink youcan’t, you’re right. The Bible says in Proverbs 23:7, “As a man thinks in his heart so is he…” Also, in Proverbs 4:23 it says, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Therefore, I want youto make guarding yourheart and mind a priority. Put this at the top of your“to-do” list, because if yourmind becomes polluted, yourlife will also becomepolluted.

Every time youdwell on a negative, condemning thought or youmeditate on those thoughts of low self-esteem, you’re feeding on toxic thoughts and you’re making them stronger! Yet, when those thoughts come to yousaying, “You’re never going to be happy.” or, “You’re never going to accomplish your dreams”, don’t focus on them. Turn it around by saying, “No, I’m not going there. I’m not going to dwell on what I think are impossibilities in my life, those who have hurt me, or even my past mistakes. No, I’m going to dwell on what God says about me. God says that I am forgiven. He says that my best days are still out in front of me, that I am anointed, blessed coming in and going out and everything I put my hands to prospers and succeeds.” (See Deuteronomy 28:1-14)

When youignore the negative feelings and keep yourmind full of thoughts of faith and victory, negative thoughts will tend to getweaker and weaker and before long they won’t have any negative effect on you. (See 2 Corinthians 10:5, Matthew 4:4 and Philippians 4:8)

Dietitians have said, “You are what you eat” and that is true physically, mentally, andspiritually. When people are dieting, they only eat anddrink certain things. If youoffer them a soda pop or a hot dog, they may say, “No, that’s not on my eating program.” Why, because they’reon a strict diet. That’sthe way weneed to be when these negative thoughts that come to our mind. Some of you may wish youhad more joy. Youyearn to have the confidence that God desires for youto have. Yet, youmay not have it because you’re not eating a healthy mental diet. In other words, you’re eating too much mental junk food that is polluting yourmind. Thoughtslike, “I’ll never be happy, successful or be able to accomplish my dreams.” are mental junk food, polluting our minds. But remind yourself,those negative thought are not a part of your“mental eating program.” I’mencouraging youto go on a fast. Not a fast from food, but a fast from negative thinking. This is a fast from condemnation, bitterness, and any“I can’t do it” thoughts. Youare not who people say youare. Youare who God says youare, and God says that youare talented,creative, strong, confident, anddisciplined. Youare well able to overcome any obstacle youface and fulfill every one of those God given dreams that He has placed in yourheart.

So what are yougoing to choose to focus on: defeat, failure, and lack? Or faith, hope, and victory? Understand a true life transformation takes place when yougetrid of all those negative thoughts and youstart feeding yourmind with what God says about you.If you’re going to go higher in life, youhave to have a new way of thinking. Learn to starve out all those negative thoughts and let the word of God take root in yourheart. Learn to feed yourmind thoughts of faith, hope, andvictory. Understand that the choice is not up to God, it’sup to you.It’s yourdecision; it’s yourchoice alone.

Again, if you’ll guard yourmind with all diligence and not let these toxic, negative thoughts take root, but instead keep yourmind filled with the word of God, that’swhen true life transformation will take place and you’ll start living more of that abundant “Life in Christ!”